Leelanau Sports Guy’s World

Eric Voison is a big part of Hope College’s success. The senior center is averaging 9.7 points and 6.8 rebounds as the Flying Dutchman have advanced to the Division III Sweet 16. Next up they play Wittenberg University today for a chance to move on. Hope is 28-2 on the season.

View Division III Bracket at NCAASports.com
Hope Men’s Basketball Official Site

Northern Michigan will be short one more great coach with the retirement of Rene LaFreniere. The Manton Varsity Boys Basketball coach will be stepping down after 22 years at the position. He has a career record of 338-171. Rumor has it that former Manton star Ryan Hiller may be the next head coach.

Read Era nears an end in Manton in the Record Eagle

My View: I always had alot of respect for him. His teams played hard and were always prepared.

Liz Shimek did all she could, but it wasn’t quite enough as Michigan State lost in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals to Ohio State 68-64. Shimek scored 23 points on 10-17 shooting, but the rest of the team struggled. In the two Big Ten Tournament games Shimek averaged 27 points including a career-high 31 in a win over Iowa. The Spartans finished the regular season 22-9 and await the NCAA Tournament selection show to see where they are seeded for March Madness.

Read Shimek carrying load on offense in the Detroit News

Former Glen Lake Laker Liz Shimek keeps adding accolades to her hoops resume. Her latest is being named first-team All-Big Ten. She is the first player in MSU history to score over 1,500 points and grab more than 1,000 rebounds.

Read MSU women rake in Big Ten honors in the Lansing State Journal
Read Shimek is first team All-Big Ten in the Record Eagle

Traverse City Central is set to honor one of it’s best basketball stars with a banner ceremony before the game with Traverse City West. Former Trojan Dan Majerle will be the center of attention with a pregame ceremony at 7:30 PM. A banner will be raised to the rafters and Majerle will be signing autographs at halftime and after the game. Majerle starred at Central Michigan and went on to play in the NBA and the Olympics.

Read Central to honor Majerle in the Record Eagle

South Lake Leelanau was the site for a new annual event, the T.C. Kite Derby. Thirty kite boarders gathered for a three day event of fast paced racing. The event was setup to help promote the growing sport of kite boarding.

Read Kite Derby sails away in the Grand Traverse Herald

Lots of great winter events are on tap for the Traverse City area in the month of February including a limited supply of free snowshoes to borrow at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Read Winter events abound in the Record Eagle

Received this press release…

Dozens of tennis players from across Michigan and beyond will converge on Grand Traverse Resort and Spa the weekend of February 17-19 for the Seventh Annual Bob Swanson Memorial Scholarship Tennis Tournament and registrations for the tournament are now being accepted.

The scholarships assist high school tennis players within the Northern Michigan District of the Midwest Section of the United States Tennis Association in furthering their education at the college level. In the last six years, 22 scholarships totaling $33,000 have been awarded to students.

For registration info visit www.playthebob.com. Scholarship information is also available at www.playthebob.com.

Albion used a big first half and cruised to a 85-46 win over Adrian college to improve to 16-2 overall and 7-1 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Former Glen Lake star Drew Hilton scored a career high 6 points in 8 minutes of action. The junior guard finished 2 for 4 from floor making two 3-point shots and added one assist.

Read Albion shoots 61% to roll over MIAA rival Adrian at Albion Sports

Just received this press release…

Top Players to Compete in ESPN 1310 Radio Snowbound Open Tennis Tournament

Acme, Mich., January 6, 2006 - Some of the top ranked men tennis players in the Midwest, Canada, and the world will compete in the 2006 ESPN 1310 Radio Snowbound Open Tennis Tournament, January 20-22, at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, near Traverse City, Mich.

Contact: Chris “Mick” Michalowski, USPTA, Tournament Director, 231-534-6776 or J. Michael DeAgostino, Public Relations Manager, 231-534-6352

Article courtesy of Skip Traynor, Alma College PR Office

Alma College seniors Kelly O’Connor of Suttons Bay and Scott Barriger of Prescott have been named finalists for an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The College has had 11 NCAA Postgraduate Scholars since 1967.

The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. The one-time scholarships of $7,500 each are awarded for fall sports, winter sports and spring sports at the end of each season.

The final selections for the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship will be made in late February and announced after that date.

Read the Full Story

A neat article about former Kalkaska star Chuck Schuba.

Schuba happy to join losing program - Kalkaska grad to tour against the Globetrotters - Record Eagle article.

Just read this in the Record Eagle…

Criminal record haunts hockey team owner, Centre ICE officials plan to investigate
Record Eagle article by Dennis Chase, Keith Matheny & Bill O’Brien
Traverse City - The man who vowed to bring minor league hockey to Traverse City is a multiply convicted felon who’s also awaiting sentencing in a forgery case. Joseph Kolodziej, 37, of Petoskey, is scheduled for sentencing in Emmet County Circuit Court Nov. 1, after pleading guilty to felony forgery and faces up to 14 years in prison. Kolodziej’s criminal record dates to at least 1988, and includes convictions for car theft, grand larceny and check fraud. Kolodziej wants to base an International Hockey Association (IHA) team in Traverse City. League play was to begin next month with home games at Centre ICE. “I’m shocked,” said Terry Marchand, executive director at Centre ICE, when a Record-Eagle reporter informed him of Kolodziej’s criminal record. He quickly scrapped a Thursday press conference meant to introduce team owner Kolodziej. “Everything’s on hold,” Marchand said. Read the entire article.

My view: It’s not looking good for this team to replace the Enforcers. Looks like no minor league hockey in TC in the near future.

You can always go watch the Titans, Trojans or the Reps!

Some good news after losing the Enforcers…

Record-Eagle article by Dennis Chase
Traverse City - Traverse City will have a semi-pro team in the new International Hockey Association, it was announced Tuesday. The team, which will have local ownership, is expected to start its season in mid-November. Games will be played at Centre ICE. The Traverse City franchise was originally scheduled to play in Dayton, Ohio, but the owner approached Centre ICE officials after the Traverse City Enforcers of the Continental Elite Hockey League folded, said Centre ICE executive director Terry Marchand. Read the entire article.

Tied for most of the season with Calvin College, the Alma College volleyball team outlasted the Knights Oct. 29 and clinched the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) title with a 35-33, 30-28, 30-20 win in Grand Rapids.The Scots improved to 13-1 in the MIAA, 26-5 overall. Calvin finishes the regular season in second place with 12-2 conference record, 24-7 overall.

Junior Lindsey Baker (Chelsea), led the Scots with 36 assists. She added 10 digs and six kills. Junior Kristin Judson (Frankenmuth) topped the stats with 18 digs and added 10 kills. Junior Caitlin Deis (Chelsea) contributed a team-high 14 kills and had 10 digs. Junior Kerri Judson (Frankenmuth) had a team-best four service aces and added 15 digs and five kills. Sophomore Erin Fralick (Petoskey) contributed seven kills and six blocks, Junior Kelly O’Connor (Suttons Bay) had five kills and Kelsee Krull, a freshman from Midland (Dow), had 10 digs.

The Scots host a first round MIAA Championship match Tuesday, Nov. 4. With a win, Alma hosts the semi-final and final matches Thursday, Nov. 7, and Friday, Nov. 8. A combination of regular season standings and results of the conference tournament determines the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III Tournament. Alma still has to finish the regular non-conference season against Tri-State Saturday, Nov. 1 at noon. The game is designated Parents Day to show the playersí appreciation for the support of their parents.

For more information on Alma Scots Volleyball please click here.